Prehistory

Question 1

What can be used as evidence for Prehistory?

Answer 1

Artifacts found on archaeological cites, practices of modern nomadic peoples, and the gods/goddesses that reflect these ancient peoples

Question 2

What does ‘Homo sapiens’ translate too and what does it claim?

Answer 2

‘Knowing humans’ and it claims that we are the most intelligent species

Question 3

What are some of the features of Homo sapiens?

Answer 3

self consciousness
complex 
language
abstract thought (projection into the future, maths, sciences, philosophy)
technology
artistic creation
conscience

Question 4

Where and when did the Homo sapiens spread across the globe (4)?

Answer 4

Southern Easter Africa: 200,000 BP
Middle East: 100,000 BP
Europe: 40,000 BP
America: 15,000 BP

Question 5

What could have caused the spread of Homo sapiens across the globe?

Answer 5

The need to to follow your food

Question 6

What was the period of the Last Ice Age?

Answer 6

110,000 - 11,000 BP

Question 7

What occurred during the Last Ice Age (3)?

Answer 7

The average temperature lowered by 10 degrees celsius
Glaciers formed and trapped ocean waters, causing the average water level to drop by 120m
Land bridges were created between islands/continents due to lower water levels

Question 8

What was the Palaeolithic Period known as and when did it begin and end?

Answer 8

‘Old Stone Age’ (refers to the stone tools made during this period)
2.6 M yrs BP - 11,000 BCE

Question 9

What was the Neolithic Period known as and when did it begin and end?

Answer 9

‘New Stone Age’ (refers to the stone tools made during this period)
11,000 BCE - 3,300 BCE

Question 10

What are some characteristics (5) of Palaeolithic society?

Answer 10

Simple stone tools
Nomadic way of living
Artistic expression
Beginnings of spirituality Medicine

Question 11

What were simple stone tools used for in Palaeolithic society?

Answer 11

Hunting and gathering

Question 12

What was hunted in Palaeolithic society?

Answer 12

Rabbit, deer, buffalo, mammoth, fish, and horse (depending on the group)

Question 13

What was gathered in Palaeolithic society?

Answer 13

Berries, nuts, leaves, and roots

Question 14

What characterized nomadic living Palaeolithic society?

Answer 14

Small clans of maybe 30 people
Temporary shelters: igloos, huts, caves
Simple societal structure: minimal hierarchy, division of labor, fair distribution of resources, less division between gender and children

Question 15

Name some examples (2) of artistic expression in Palaeolithic society.

Answer 15

Cave paintings and female figurines (Venuses)

Question 16

What signs of the beginning of spirituality occurred in Palaeolithic society?

Answer 16

Phases of the moon
Venus sculptures
The fate of horses (not eaten, but seen as deserving respect)

Question 17

What did Palaeolithic society do in terms of medicine?

Answer 17

They consumed plants and tattooed each other

Question 18

What are some characteristics of Neolithic society?

Answer 18

Varied/specialized stone tools
Farming and animal domestication
Sedentary living
Surplus

Question 19

What was farmed in Neolithic society?

Answer 19

Figs, wheat, barley, and flax

Question 20

What animals were domesticated in Neolithic society?

Answer 20

Cats, dogs, pigs, cattle, sheep, horses, and bees

Question 21

What purpose did cats and dogs serve in Neolithic society?

Answer 21

They served as companion animals

Question 22

What is surplus?

Answer 22

It is additional food that the community does not need but can be used for other purposes

Question 23

What purposes was surplus used for in Neolithic society?

Answer 23

It was used for trade, feed for domesticated animals, and for sacrifices to the gods

Question 24

What kind of society causes the creation of complex societies in Neolithic society?

Answer 24

Sedentary living leads to complex societies due to their large settlements of 100s - 1000s of people

Question 25

What does the increase in population in Neolithic settlements lead to?

Answer 25

It leads to the creation of cities

Question 26

What led to the creation of writing in Neolithic society? Why was writing necessary?

Answer 26

Intensified trade led to the creation of writing due to the necessity of transaction records because of intensified trade

Question 27

What are the characteristics (11) of a complex society in the Neolithic period?

Answer 27

``` Large settlements Intensified trade Monumental and permanent structures Varied clothing (fibres) Environmental footprint Specialization of jobs Uneven distribution of resources Hardened hierarchy Codified law Organized warfare Accumulation of wealth on a large scale ```

Question 28

What factors (3) contributed to the environmental footprint of complex societies in the Neolithic period?

Answer 28

Waste, pollution, and epidemics

Question 29

What is a product of the uneven distribution of resources in complex societies in the Neolithic period?

Answer 29

Debt slavery

Question 30

What was part of the hardened hierarchy of complex societies in the Neolithic period?

Answer 30

Gender, birth order, revenue, titles, and functions

Question 31

Name 3 impacts of farming on human society

Answer 31

Surplus, intensified trade, and waste

Question 32

What are the origins of marriage?

Answer 32

Marriage was important for the inheritance of the man's children

Question 33

Name the 3 steps that led to the creation of clay tablets

Answer 33

1) Boxes were used to contain symbolic tokens and had lids made out of clay 2) The contents of the box were drawn on the cover with a reed or bone stylus 3) The clay lid with the drawn contents becomes the clay tablet commonly used for writing

Question 34

What characterizes complex government in Neolithic society?

Answer 34

Laws Public works War and peace Taxes

Question 35

What are the products of the creation of laws?

Answer 35

Judges begin to exists | Justice and order become relevant

Question 36

What are the products of taxation?

Answer 36

Currency is invented | Taxation records are needed, leading to the creation of writing

Question 37

Why was writing invented?

Answer 37

In order to track trades and perform taxation

Question 38

When did Ötzi the Iceman die?

Answer 38

5,300 BP (3,300 BCE)

Question 39

What is Ötzi the Iceman, who is he, how did he die and where was he found?

Answer 39

What is he: oldest natural mummy Who is he: most likely a migrant How did he die: murder? it's unclear Where was he found: on the Ötzi Alps, Italy with a fire kit and he had tattoos on his body